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/lit/ - Literature

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7766685 No.7766685 [Reply] [Original]

Why is Russian literature always so depressing?

You'd think that, for a load of people without TVs/Radios/etc, they'd make books their ONE source of escapism; but no. The vast majority of Russian literature is like one long ode to misery; made worse in that it's practically made for those who have themselves been miserable.

Or those who still are.

>> No.7766689

hello normie redditor

>> No.7766692

I take it you've never been to Russia, OP.

>> No.7766695

>>7766689

Share with us your list of happy Russian stories, anon.

>> No.7766696

Who wants to read books about rainbows and endless bliss?
Also I don't find it depressing. Have you read "dream of a ridiculous man" by dosty? It's cheerful

>> No.7766715

>>7766696

>Also I don't find it depressing.

What parts of The Brothers Kamarazov did you find cheerful?

>> No.7766725

Read Nietszsche
The Birth of Tragedy

>> No.7766731

what are you basing this on? a highly pruned list of 19th century classics and not what was actually read by the masses?

>> No.7766747

>>7766715
It deals with a lot of shit, there are a lot of sad characters like the guy whose kid dies, the story about the kid that the dogs killed and so on. But still I don't find it depressing because there's in the book a search for virtue and the right path. Alyosha redeems the book. It is sombre but not "boo hoo I want to kill myself" kind of book

>> No.7766777

>>7766685
I wouldn't say 'depressing' as much as the fact a lot of our literature deals with 'suffering' that's an inherent part of life.

"Russian Soul" is a big part of our cultural basis and is rooted in stoicism.

>> No.7766784

Japanese lit was the same prior to the 20th century, like does every novel have to end in suicide? wrt Kokoro

>> No.7766831

>>7766784

Japanese lit didn't get much better, in fairness.

Most of it seems like pretentious shit; maybe it just doesn't translate well.

>> No.7767081

most of asian literature is very very depressing.

viz. most well-known 'classics' from russia, china, korea, japan...

>> No.7767484

Why is that painting suddenly getting so popular on here? I've seen it three times in the past week.

I've has it on my wall forever and felt so patrician.

>> No.7767513
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7767513

>>7766784
>like does every novel have to end in suicide?
Can't blame them for being accurate.

>> No.7767550

>>7766685
Russia is depressing. There's nothing but snow and wodka

>> No.7768564

>>7766784
what do you expect from people who have integrated suicide in their culture as a matter of forgivness

>> No.7768573

>implying Russians actually read their classics
>implying Russians don't read ebin russian tom clancy analogue or that BUT WHAT IF STALIN WAS ALSO HITLER or WHAT IF PUTIN WENT BACK TO PAST AND BECAME TSAR type of fiction

>> No.7768628

>>7766685
>for a load of people without TVs/Radios/etc
What timeframe are you talking about here?
Also newsflash, art is a product of geographical and cultural surroundings. It doesn't just go magically against it for escapism sake.

>> No.7768637

>>7766695
Gogol short stories, half of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky.

>> No.7769112

>>7766831
you're dumb/don't understand subtlety and restraint

>> No.7769120

>>7768573
Can you recommend some WHAT IF PUTIN WENT BACK TO PAST AND BECAME TSAR type of fiction?

>> No.7771043

You just arent understanding the humour and subtlety either due to translation or just missing it.

>> No.7771056

>>7766695
The Suitcase by Sergei Dovlatov

>> No.7771071
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7771071

>>7766685
You are looking for the joyful land of Nippon, onii-san!

>> No.7772262

Russian humor and cheer is dependent on the perspective of having lived in Russia. Dostoevsky and Gogol both have plenty of uplifting moments by Russian standards.

Also,the average russian does not read.

>> No.7772476

>>7768637
>Gogol short stories
>happy
Næge...

>> No.7774230

>>7769120
This, sounds funny

>> No.7774321
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7774321

>>7766685
>You'd think that, for a load of people without TVs/Radios/etc, they'd make books their ONE source of escapism; but no.

Da fuck? Have you ever been to a bookstore in Russia?

Fantasy and sci-fi escapist shit is the biggest seller for Russian men.